Achilles tendon allograft for an irreparable massive rotator cuff tear with bony deficiency of the greater tuberosity.

Abstract

Management of combined bony and tendinous deficiency of the posterosuperior rotator cuff represents a challenge in young patients. In this case report, a 44-year-old woman that presented an osteonecrosis of the greater tuberosity had a pseudoparalytic shoulder. She beneficiated from a fresh-frozen Achilles tendon allograft with calcaneal bone, which was used to reconstruct the rotator cuff and the concomitant bony defect. At 12-month follow-up, the patient was pain free and had complete range of motion, normal strength, a SANE score of 95 and radiographically the allograft was healed. An Achilles tendon allograft may therefore be a viable surgical option to reconstruct a combine posterosuperior rotator cuff tear and greater tuberosity bone defect. Level of evidence IV.